“Shop local” was the touchstone for some small communities in Grey County, when it came time to honour their neighbours who had served in WW1. Three similar monuments were erected in three hamlets, all likely from the same company in nearby Collingwood.

Monument in loving memory of the men from Egremont Township killed in WW1

111 men and three women from Holstein and Egremont served in WW1

111 men and three women from Holstein and Egremont served in WW1

111 men and three women from Holstein and Egremont served in WW1

It would be easy to miss Holstein, let alone its war memorial. The village stretches for about 500 m on Grey County Rd 109 north of Southgate Rd 12. But the war memorial lists 114 names – those from the village and surrounding township who served overseas, 18 of whom died. Continue reading →

Erected by the Salem community in memory of their heroic dead, 1914 – 1918

War memorial at Salem (North) Methodist Church Cemetery

Salem (North) Methodist Church Cemetery, Minto Township

Some WW1 monuments have survived the community that sought to remember. You could easily miss a small cemetery on the short stretch of the town line between Minto and Normanby Townships that joins Grey County Road 3 and Wellington County Road 3, between Ayton and Harriston.Continue reading →

Some war memorials get around. Some get caught up in the changing machinations of remembrance.

This memorial stands in front of the Markdale Hospital of the Grey-Bruce Health Services, at the corner of Main St W and Argyle St. A centre plaque lists those from the Markdale community who gave their lives in the Great War. It is flanked by plaques commemorating those who served. Two nursing sisters are named on the left plaque: Laura Adams and May Devitt.Continue reading →

Many cenotaphs have been caught up in spring cleaning in recent years. I happened to capture before and after photos of the cenotaph in Memorial Park, 40 Sydenham Rd (Hwy 10), just north of County Road 4, in Flesherton. Land for the park was donated by descendants of village founder William Flesher in 1920. The cenotaph was erected sometime after that.Continue reading →

Eugenia is a hamlet in Grey County, Ontario. Its key attraction is the Eugenia Falls Conservation Area, where the Beaver River falls 30 metres over the Niagara Escarpment. Nice place for a peaceful walk to see the falls and Eugenia’s war memorial.

Dedicated in 1921, the war memorial lists the men of the area who served (“those who daring to die survived”) and who died (“our gallant dead”). The young soldier is flanked by cannons. Crossed rifles and swords are under the names. The monument is decorated with maple leaves and palm laurels. A faded “S. Borland, Collingwood” on the base likely denotes the maker.

A gingko tree next to the monument is dedicated to Lt John Allison, MC. Allison was a second year medical student at the University of Toronto when he enlisted. He was killed in 1918 while flying reconnaissance in Mesopotamia.

The Chatsworth and Community cenotaph is in a small park in the village of Chatsworth, just north of the intersection of Highways 6 and 10, on the west side of the road at Sideroad 1.

The monument is coarsely chiselled granite. The front is flat to accommodate the names and adorned with symbols carved in finer detail. The draped Union Jack, a sword, maple leaves and poppies bring a flowing movement to the stone.

Robert Shipley notes, “Because (the British Isles and northern France) are the root soil for much of Canada’s cultural inheritance, it is not surprising that some of our memorials echo the form of the “menhirs,” or standing stones. … The similarity between memorial stones like this one in Chatsworth, Ontario and the old standing stones in Northern Europe is not accidental.” (To Mark Our Place, p 105)

The WW2 plaque is a recent addition. Shipley’s photo from the 1980s shows more harmonious carving of the dates and two or three names in the space now occupied by the deteriorating plaque.

One of Chatsworth’s claims to fame is as the birthplace of political activist Nellie McClung. She later moved west, where she was instrumental in winning the vote for women in Manitoba and Alberta in 1916.